Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-01-15

injustice to this SIMPLE and SINGERS
people To liberty and enfranchlse-
ment is rs far as law can carry the
NEGRO The rest must be left to con
science and common sense. Ii should
be left to those among whom his lot is
cast, with whom he is indissolubly con
nected and whose prosperity depends
upon their possessing his intelligent
sympathy and confidence. Faith has
been kept with them in spite Of oalum-
NOUS assertions TO the contrary, by
those who assume to speak for us or by
frank opponents. Faith will be kept
with him In the future, il the South
holds her reason and integrity APP
plause'
THE SOUTH HAS KEPT FAITH WIFE THE
NORTH.
But have we kept faith with you? In
the fullest sense, yes. When Lee sur
rendered. don't say when Johnston
surrendered, because ! understand he
still alludes to the time when he met
Gen. Sherman last rs the time when he
determined to abandon any further
prosecution OF the str3ggle" when Lee
surrendered, | say, and Johnson quit
tie South become, and has been since,
loyal to this Union. We fought hard
enough to know that We were whipped,
and in perfect frankness accepted as
final the arbitrament of the sword to
which we had appealed. The South
found her jewel in toad's head The
shackles that had held her in narrow
limitations fell forever when the shackles
of the negro slave were broken. APP
plause. Under the old regime the
negroes we're slaves to the South, the
South was slave to the system. Thus
was gathered in the hands of splendid
and chivalric oligarchy the substance
that should have been ditfused among
the people, as the rich blood is gathered
at the heart, fill that with effiuent
rapture but leaving the body chill and
colorless, Applause.
| The old South rested everything on
slavery and agriculture, unconscious
that these could neither give nor main
tain healthy growth. The new South
presents perfect Democracy. the
oligarchs leading into the popular
moyement--a social system compact
and closely knitted, less splendid on
the surface but stronger at the core--a
hundred farms for every plantation,
fifty homes for every palace-and Il
diversified industry that meets the
complex needs OF this complex age.
PEOPLE EMANcIPATED BY DEFEAT.
The New South is enamored of her
new work. Her soul is stirred with
the breath OF a new life. The light of a
grander day is falling fair on her face.
She is thrilling, sir, with the con-
seriousness OF growing power and pros
perity. AS she stands full.statured and
equal among the people of the earth,
breathing the keen air and looking out
upon an expanding horizon, she under
stands that her emancipation came be-
cause in the inscrutable wisdom of God
her honest purpose was crossed and her
brave armies were beaten. Applause.
This is said in no spirit of time serving
and apology. should be unjust to the
South if did not make this plain in
this presence. The South has nothing
TO take back; nothing tor which she has
excuses to make. In my native town
of Athens is a monument that crowns
its central hll--a plain white shalt
Deep cut into its shining sides is name
dear to me above the names OF men,
that OF brave and simple man who
died in brave and simple faith. Not
for all the glores of New England
from Plymouth Rock all the way,
would | exchange the heritage he left
me in his patriots death. To the foot
of that shaft shall send my children
children to reverence him who emo
hled their name with his heroic blood.
But, SIR, speaking from the shadow OF
that memory, which / honor as do
nothing else on earth, | say that the
cause in which he suffered, and for
which he gave his life, was adjudged by
higher and fuller wisdom than his or
mine. and am glad that the omnscient
God held the balance of battle in His
Almighty hand, and that the American
Union was saved from the wreck OF
war. Loud applause.
This message, Mr.. President, comes
to you from consecrated ground
Every foot of the soil about the city in
which live is sacred as a battle-ground
of the Republic. Every hill that invests
tits hallowed to us by the blood of your
brothers who died for your victory and
doubly hallowed to us by the blood Of
those who died hopeless, but undaunted
, in defeat sacred soil to all of us-ricll
with memories that make us purer and
stronger and better-silent but saunch
witness in its rich desoIation OF the
matchless glory of American hearts and
the deathlesS glory of American arms
speaking and eloquent witness in its
white peace and prosperity to the indis
, soluble Union OF the American States
and the imperishabe brotherhood o.
the American people. Immense cheer
, ing.